Shuttle Atlantis was moved May. 17 from Orbiter Processing Facility-1
to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
for the final space shuttle mission, STS-135. The move from Atlantis’ hangar
is referred to as a "rollover."
Following rollover, technicians will attach the lifting sling to Atlantis
for rotation and hoisting. The shuttle then is bolted to its external tank and
twin solid rocket boosters for its rollout to Launch Pad 39A in approximately two weeks.
During the 12-day flight, Atlantis’ four astronauts will deliver to the
International Space Station the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module
filled with supplies, logistics and spare parts that will sustain station
operations once the shuttles are retired this summer. Atlantis’ final launch
is expected to be targeted for mid-July. This will be the final flight
of the Space Shuttle Program.